Chapter 5 One Slip Too Many

Ricky stood frozen for several seconds before suddenly pulling out his phone.

"Wait. I have a picture."

He tapped the screen a few times before holding it out for everyone to see.

The picture had been taken two nights earlier. It showed a man with a build similar to mine standing in a dimly lit alley, wearing a jacket almost identical to one I owned.

The angle hid most of his face, but the photo clearly showed him accepting several large envelopes from a blond-haired man.

I stared at the screen and forced a look of disbelief onto my face. 'How is that possible? I've never even been there.'

Sharon leaned closer to examine the photo, her brows slowly drawing together as she scrutinized it closely. "This is too blurry to identify anyone with certainty. His face isn't even visible in the picture."

Ricky gave a humorless laugh. "You can verify the photo however you want. The picture is real."

Then, he pointed at the blond-haired man. "As for this guy, the police are already investigating him for trafficking stolen corporate information."

He handed the phone to Daniel, who studied the image carefully for several moments before looking at me again. "Mike, given the seriousness of this allegation, I think we need to conduct a more thorough search of the apartment."

I hesitated just long enough to make it noticeable. "I understand, but could we do it tomorrow? I still have some personal belongings I haven't had a chance to put away."

"Tomorrow?" Ricky immediately cut in. "You mean after you've had all night to move whatever you're hiding?"

His voice sharpened as he looked around the room. "If there's really nothing here, then there shouldn't be a problem searching now."

The committee members exchanged glances. After a brief discussion, Daniel turned back to me. "For the sake of fairness, and for the sake of clearing your name if this accusation is false, we'd like to complete a full search today."

He paused before adding, "That may require opening secured storage areas or moving furniture, and there could be minor property damage. Do you consent to this?"

The apartment fell silent.

Everyone was watching me, waiting for my response.

Ricky looked especially pleased with himself, as if he could already see how this was going to end.

I lowered my gaze and let several seconds pass before closing my eyes and exhaling slowly. "Fine. I consent."

The security officers pulled on gloves and resumed the search.

This time, they left almost nothing untouched. They removed cushions, checked behind furniture, opened sealed storage compartments, inspected loose floor panels, and examined the ceiling access points.

I stood quietly to the side and watched them go through my things.

Ricky eventually drifted closer while everyone else was occupied. He lowered his voice so only I could hear him.

"You want to hear a joke? I had a dream while you were passed out drunk last night."

A faint smile appeared on his face.

"In it, they found out you'd been selling company secrets. You went to prison, and I got the Chief Engineer position since I came in second after you."

Then, he leaned a little closer. "And Andrea? She realized you were finished and climbed straight into my bed."

My pulse jumped.

For one brief second, a disturbing possibility flashed through my mind. 'Could it be… Did he get a second chance, too?'

I kept my expression flat. "You sound awfully sure they're going to find something."

Ricky covered his mouth as if he were trying not to laugh. "Why wouldn't I be? After all, you're the one who 'hid' it."

Then, he gave me a slow, triumphant smirk. "Face it, Mike. That promotion is going to be mine. Andrea, too."

I looked at him and almost laughed at his face.

A moment later, one of the security officers suddenly stopped searching.

Ricky spun around before Daniel could even ask what had happened.

"Well?"

The question came out far too quickly.

"You found it, right?"

Daniel did not answer immediately.

Instead, he stared at Ricky for a good long while.

Then, he raised his voice so everyone in the apartment could hear.